Unbrand/Debrand Comviq ZTE MF60 guide

My previous post has become a big hit for me as a 2 weeks old blog. One of the reader has actually investigate further based on my finding and found a nice way to debrand/unbrand the device. He's already post on how he did managed but it might probably unclear on some part. I asked him for the permission for me to write a guide based on this finding and he's OK with that. So here's the guide




Before we start, let's look at what's the debrand/unbrand ? and what's the pros and cons of it.

To debrand/unbrand any tech device is basically to install the original firmware on the device that is branded to local distributor. For example, this MF60 device you bought is branded to Comviq. They installed their custom made firmware on the device to provide their customer on some benefit (which I will talk about this later on) but it came with some limitation that some users might find it disturbing. Let's see on the pros/cons for debranding your device that I can think of.

PROS:

• You will have more up-to-date firmware. With the branded firmware, you're stuck on that version until your operator release a new firmware.
• With the newest firmware from ZTE, you're now can have up to 10 concurrent connections to the router. The comviq firmware alllows 5.
• You will get more information on the device like downlink speed and uplink speed. You can customize your device more
• You can have your router in USB-mode, this feature is disabled on original Comviq firmware.

CONS:

• You lose your warranty of the device. You have no way to re-install your device back to original Comviq firmware.
• You lose the http://comviq.home access but gained http://m.home instead. Without comviq.home access, you might find it more difficult to refill your surf card if you stay on Comviq sim

Now let's do some step-by-step.

What you need:

• The original ZTE firmware tool. You can get it from here  and download the file called P020121016017156583545.exe
• Telenor firmware tool, here
• MF60 driver, it's in the same place as first bullet

Let's start

1. Install MF60 driver
2. Run telenor firmware tool and wait until the upgrade button becomes available.

3. Close the tool. 
4. Now your windows should found the new devices, it should look something similar to this. Wait until all devices are installed.

5.  Start the official ZTE firmware tool. Please note that Current version should say BD_COMVIQSEMF60V1.0.0B03. I have different one because I already debranded my device.




6. Now it's the tricky part. If you click the upgrade now, it will say that your firmware version doesn't match and if the tool said that. You need to restart the tool since it will not try to upgrade again.
7. To let the tool accept our device, you need to click the UPDATE button and hold the power button of the device immediately afterward. Keep hold the power button for few seconds or until the tool accept it.
8. If failed, try to restart the tool and try #7 again. I don't really remember that if I start to do this process from the device off or on.
9. Once it's accept by the tool, you should see something like this




10. Wait until it's finished, it will take around 5-10 mins
11. Now you have original ZTE firmware installed! Some immediately change is that comviq.home is gone  but use m.home instead. The password is "admin" instead of "Admin". Your SSID (wireless name) changed from Comviq-Wi-Fi-Bxxxxx to uFi_Bxxxxx, where Bxxxx - is the same original number from Comviq. Here is the screenshot of the new dashboard (thanks Razor-Charlie)

12. To enable USB mode, simply run Telenor tool again and wait until the upgrade button become available. Close the tool. That's it. With the original firmware, the battery indicator is still there even if you're in diag mode.
13. Enjoy your debranded ZTE MF60!

Special thanks to my reader : Razor-Charlie

As before, please let me know if you're managed to follow the process or not. That's actually keeping me active in this blog. 

My next post is probably something off topic here, I recently bought a capsule coffee machine and love it! Since it's a random review, I will write something about it :D

/Bankie

UPDATE:
hexecute has wrote a beautiful tool to bypass the version checking so now you can upgrade the firmware easier

Quote
"
I've made a patch for the firmware installer so you don't need to try and turn off and on your MF60 to trick the version check. It just completely removes the version check routine so you can click UPDATE without any errors.

https://sites.google.com/site/mf60guide/MF60-patch.zip


I also made a guide based on yours but for telstra elite MF60 owners!
"

In case you couldn't find the instruction wrote by him,
https://sites.google.com/site/mf60guide/

Thanks for your contribution.

/Bankie